Support system

ABSTRACT

A support system includes an end frame comprising a pair of uprights ( 20 ), and a cross member ( 22 ), each upright ( 20 ) being secured at its lower end to a base member ( 26 ), a diagonal strut ( 28 ) interconnecting the base member ( 26 ) and the upright ( 20 ).

This invention relates to a support system suitable for use in thecultivation of crops. In particular the invention relates to a supportsystem for a poly tunnel providing increased strength and permitting theautomated operation of handling and other equipment for use in or withthe tunnel. However, it will be appreciated that the support system maybe used in other applications, for example in supporting the crops.

Poly tunnels are in widespread use in the United Kingdom in thecultivation of for example, soft fruits. A poly tunnel typicallycomprises, in its simplest form, a plurality of generally invertedU-shaped hoops over which a covering is located. The hoops are typicallylocated on ‘legs’ that are anchored in place by screwing them into thesoil. However, alternative techniques may be used, for example if thepoly tunnel is to be erected upon a hard standing.

The benefits of poly tunnels are that they protect crops from rain andother adverse weather conditions, extend the growing season, provide acontrollable growing environment and reduce wastage.

In spite of these advantages, however, the limited strength of the basicdesign of existing tunnels prevents their use in windy conditionsreducing the length of the season over which they can be used. Thenature of the crops cultivated in poly tunnels tends to be very highvalue and very labour intensive and therefore by improving theenvironmental control inside the poly tunnel and using the strength ofthe poly tunnel to partially mechanise operation currently done manuallythe user will be able to reduce production costs.

Although not restricted to use with a poly tunnel of such simple form,one aspect of the invention relates to a support system incorporating anend frame for use with a poly tunnel. According to the present inventionthere is provided a support system including an end frame comprising apair of uprights and a cross member, each upright being secured at itslower end to a base member which extends, in use, in a directiongenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the poly tunnel, and adiagonal strut interconnecting the base member and associated upright.Such an arrangement is advantageous in that it provides good strength tothe end of the support frame. A poly tunnel incorporating the systemthus has an improved ability to withstand adverse weather conditions.Similar advantages may arise where the support system is used in otherapplications.

The invention also relates to a system that includes a plurality of endframes located side-by-side with a drive shaft extending along the crossmember of each of the end frames, the drive shafts being connected toone another such that a single power source can be used to drive all ofthe drive shafts. The drive shafts may be used to drive equipment toassist in environmental control and facilitate the partial mechanisationof operations associated with crops being grown. The frame furtherconveniently includes a plurality of power take-off points wherebymachinery associated with the poly tunnel can be driven from the driveshaft. The machinery may include, for example, harvesting rigs, devicesfor operating vents, moving screens, or lifting doors, or a number ofother operations.

The invention further relates to an arrangement in which a plurality ofsupport systems are located side-by-side, a drive shaft being associatedwith each support system, the drive shafts being interconnected suchthat a single motor can be used to drive all of the drive shafts.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the support systems may be used in thesupport of poly tunnels, but may alternatively be used in otherapplications, for example in the support of agricultural crops.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a poly tunnelarrangement incorporating a support system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of part of one of the end frames of the poly tunnel ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 8 are enlarged views showing various parts of the end frame;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of some powertake-off points; and

FIGS. 10 to 14 are views showing an alternative embodiment.

The poly tunnels illustrated in FIG. 1 each comprise a support systemincluding a plurality of upright legs 10 arranged in rows 12.Interconnecting hoops 14 are located between pairs of legs 10. A sheet16 is stretched over the support system to form a tunnel. FIG. 1illustrates parts of two adjacent tunnels. In order to improve therigidity of the tunnel structures, in accordance with the invention, ateach open end of each tunnel the support system includes a tunnel endframe 18.

Each end frame 18 comprises a pair of triangular frames 24 (shown inmore detail in FIG. 2) which are secured to a cross member 22. Theuprights 20 of the triangular frame 24 are supported by a base member 26and a diagonal strut 28 which interconnects the base member 26 and theupright 20.

The support system further replaces the last two legs 10 at the end ofeach tunnel with two integrated legs. The first of these legs is fixedto the upright 20 and supports the end of one of the hoops 14. Thesecond of these legs is secured, at its lower end, to the base member26, and at its upper end to the diagonal strut 28. It will beappreciated, therefore, that these two legs are held particularlyrigidly in an upright condition. It will be appreciated, therefore, thatthe end two of the hoops 14 are both supported in a relatively rigidmanner as compared to the remainder of the hoops 14 as the supports forthe end two of the hoops form part of the triangular support frame forthe end frame 18.

In order to allow for variances in dimensions, uneven or sloping groundsurfaces or situations where the ends of the poly tunnels are notperpendicular to the crop rows, each joint of the end frame usesconnectors in such a manner as to allow some adjustment of all themembers relative to the upright in two perpendicular directions, duringconstruction. The nature of the connections between the variouscomponents of the side frames 24 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3to 8.

FIG. 3 illustrates the connection between the upper part of one of theuprights 20 and the diagonal strut 28. As illustrated, this connectionincludes a sleeve 40 which extends around a part of the strut 28 and issecurable to the strut 28 to prevent movement of the sleeve along thestrut 28. A housing member 42 is pivotally secured to the sleeve 40, thehousing member 42 being secured to the upper part of the upright 20 andcarrying brackets for use in securing the cross member 22, the driveshaft 30 (see below) and the auxiliary drive shaft 36 (see below) inposition. The design of the housing member 42 is such as to permit thedesired movement during assembly.

FIG. 4 illustrates the connection between the lower part of the upright20 and the base member 26. This connection simply takes the form of abracket 44 mounted upon the lower part of the upright 20 and secured toa pin 46 secured to the base member 26. Also secured to the base member26 is a housing 48 whereby a soil anchor may be used to secure the basemember 26 in position, in use.

FIG. 5 illustrates a connection between the lower part of the support 10and the base member 26. This connection takes the form of a bracket 50secured to the lower end of the support member 20, the bracket 50 beingsecured to a sleeve 52 which in turn is secured to the base member 26.

FIG. 6 illustrates the connection between the upper part of the supportmember 10 and the strut 28. This connection is very similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 5. Like reference numerals are used to denote likeparts.

FIG. 7 illustrates the connection between the base member 26 and thestrut 28. Again, this arrangement is similar to that shown in FIG. 5.Again, a housing 48 is provided whereby a soil anchor may be used tosecure the base member 26 in position, in use.

FIG. 8 illustrates the joint between the support member 20 and the crossmember 22. As illustrated, this joint allows the cross member 22 toarticulate in two generally perpendicular axes while keeping the frontface of the cross member 20 in the generally same vertical plane as thefront face of the support member 20.

In addition to serving to provide additional rigidity to the end of thepoly tunnel the end frame 18 further serves to support a drive shaft 30which extends along and is supported by the cross member 22. Asillustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 9, the drive shaft 30 is driven bya motor 32 for rotation about its axis. Where, as illustrated, two ormore poly tunnels are located adjacent one another, then the drive shaft30 of one of the tunnels may be connected to the drive shaft of anadjacent one of the tunnels, thus all of the drive shafts for the seriesof tunnels may be driven by a single power source. A number of powertake off points are provided whereby machinery associated with the polytunnels may be arranged to be driven by the drive shaft 30. Somesuitable locations for the power take off points are illustrated in FIG.9. These positions include a position denoted by reference numeral 34 inFIG. 9 at the mid-point of the cross member 22.

By way of example only, this power take off point may be used to drivemachinery, for example a pulley system to serve as a conveyor wherebyfor example harvested fruit or other crops may be transported along thelength of the poly tunnel, thereby assisting in the harvesting operationas the person or machinery used in harvesting the crop need not makerepeated trips along the length of the poly tunnel in order to removeharvested product from the tunnel but rather the harvested product maybe placed upon the conveyor and automatically be transported to the endof the poly tunnel. In addition, the drive shaft 30 may be arranged todrive auxiliary drive shafts 36 which extend along the uprights 20.Power take off points 38 may be provided whereby other devices may bepowered. By way of example only, these may comprise devices for use inthe automatic opening and closing of vents or screens or for use in theopening or closing of doors.

Although driven by a common motor, separate clutches and gearingmechanisms may be provided to allow several devices to be controlledindependently.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative end frame designcomprising a pair of triangular frames 50 interconnected by a crossmember 52. Each triangular frame 50 includes an upright 54, a basemember 56 and a diagonal strut 58. FIG. 11 illustrates a connector 60which may be used to connect the upright 54, diagonal strut 58 and crossmember 52 to one another, the connector 60 including a sleeve 62 whichcan be clamped around the upright 54 and having brackets 64, 66 securedthereto which are securable to the cross member 52 and diagonal strut58.

An end one of the hoops of the poly tunnel is replaced by a pair oftelescopic bracing struts 68 connected between brackets 70 secured tothe cross member 52 (see FIG. 12) and brackets 72 secured to theuprights 54 (see FIG. 13). A further bracing strut 74 may also beprovided between the cross member 52 and the next hoop of the polytunnel (see FIG. 14).

It will be appreciated that a number of changes may be made to thespecific arrangements described hereinbefore and the application is notlimited to the specific arrangements disclosed. By way of example only,it will be appreciated that a number of dimensional changes could bemade and the nature of the various connections could be changed.Further, the position of the motor may be changed.

Although the description hereinbefore is of a poly tunnel it will beappreciated that the support system of the invention may be used inother applications. For example, the support system may be used insupporting agricultural crops. One suitable application would be in thesupport of a table grape system.

1. A support system including an end frame comprising a pair of uprightsand a cross member, each upright being secured at its lower end to abase member which extends, in use, in a direction generally transverseto the axis of the cross member, and a diagonal strut interconnectingthe base member and associated upright.
 2. A system according to claim1, further comprising a hoop support leg connected between the basemember and the diagonal strut.
 3. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a hoop support leg secured to the upright.
 4. A systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising a bracing strut secured betweenthe upright and the cross member.
 5. A system according to claim 1,further comprising an adjustable bracket connecting the diagonal strut,upright and cross member to one another.
 6. A system according to claim1, further comprising a drive shaft extending adjacent at least part ofthe cross member.
 7. A system according to claim 6, further comprising asecond end frame, the drive shaft being connected to a drive shaftassociated with the second end frame.
 8. A poly tunnel comprising asupport system according to claim 1 and a cover supported by the supportsystem.
 9. A support system arrangement comprising a plurality ofsupport systems which are located side-by-side one another, a driveshaft being associated with each support system, the drive shafts beinginterconnected such that a single motor can be used to drive all of thedrive shafts each support system including an end frame comprising apair of uprights and a cross member, each upright being secured at itslower end to a base member which extends, in use, in a directiongenerally transverse to the axis of the cross member, and a diagonalstrut interconnecting the base member and associated upright. 10.(canceled)